Pneumato-electric device



April 20 1926. 1,582,902

J. G. GOLL ET Al.

PNEUMATO ELECTRIC DEVICE Filed DeC. l0, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet l Patented Apr. 20, 1925.

UNITED STATES JOHN GEORGE GOLL, OF NEW ROCHELLE, AND PAUL .TOI-IN SOWADA, 0F YONKERS,

NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS TO WELTEMIGNON COEPLPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,

A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

PNEUMATO-ELECTRIC DEVICE.

Application led December 10, 1923.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be itknown, that we, JOHN GEORGE GOLL and Pani. JOHN Sowana, citizens' of the United States, residing at New Rochelle, lVestchester County, and Yonkers, I'Vestchester County, respectively, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneumato-Electric Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to pneumato-electric devices and particularly to those pneumato electric devices adapted to control an electric circuit from a perforatedtracker.

In musical instruments, particularly pipe organs, it has been found that the perforated tracker, the perforations of which are controlled by aperforated music record, is a very satisfactory means of selecting the notes to be played and for controlling the. expression devices of the instrument. VAt the same time, great difficulty has been eX- perienced in producing a control means for the notes to be operated at some distance from the tracker, and which will be operated so short a time, after the opening of the tracker duct, that there is no distortion of the music. In order to transmit an impulse to a distant point, electricity has been found to be the most satisfactory medium.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved pneumatoelectric means whereby an electric circuit may be controlled from a primary pneumatic located adjacent the tracker, whereby the advantages of both the pneumatic tracker and the electric control are obtained.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a positive circuit closing device in position to be operated byf the primary pneumatic.

Another and further object of our invention is the provision of a primary pneumatic arranged adjacent the terminals of the electric circuit to be controlled and having an intermediate resilient circuit closing device 1n position to be operated by the pneumatic.

Another and further object of this invenv tion is the provision of a simple pneumatoelectric control unit which is readily capable of being installed or removed from its operating .position in the tension v'chamlrer':for alteration or repairn Serial N'o. 679,820.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1 but with the pneumatic operated to close the circuit,

Figure 5 is a front view showing one of the pneumatics in operated position.

10 designates a wind chest having a tension chamber 11 which in the present instance is underexhaust tension. One side 12 is preferably made of glass in order to aid in the inspection of the operation of the pneumatics and circuit closing devices and to assist in detecting trouble.

Attached to the rear wall 13, by machine screws 14, is the pouch rail v15. The machine screws 14 have a threaded engagement with nuts 16 in the rear of the rear wall 13.

The pouch rail 15 is provided with a series of depressions 17 to form the flush chambers for the pouches 18 of the primary pneumatics. On the top of each of the pouches-18 is a button 19.

Secured to the outer edge of the pouch rail 15 is a contact strip 20`carrying the metallic resilient contact making members 21. At the inner end of each contact making member 21`is an angular portion 22, the lower end of which engages the button 19 and the upper end of which closes the circuit in a manner to be described. This contact making member is made of very thin resilient metal and of sulicient width to insure the operation of the movable end in a proper manner. At the side of the pouch chamber 17 is a duct 28 leading outward through the rear board 13 to connect to a flexibletube 24 which extends t0 the tracker (not shown).

Rearward of the pouches andsupported on the pouch rail 15, by the .supports 25, is a contact-supporting board 26.' A rib 27 on the lower edge of the board 2b', serves to position the contact carriers 28 which' are glued or otherwise secured to the board 26. The contact carriers 28 are nrovided'pwith two contact wires 29 arranged in slots-310-` These Contact membersare normally on the bottom of the slots, the rear ends being arranged at degrees and passing through small holes as shown on Figure 1 at These 90 degree portions hold the forwardly extending portions normally in place. The ends ot' the forwardly extending portions ot the contact Wires, 29, project over the angular portions Q2 of the contact making member. 21 and in position to be engaged by the same When the pouch is inflated.

At the forward edge of the board 2G is a strip 32 carrying a t'elt 33. liVhen the contact Wires 2i) are raised by the inflation ot the pouch 18, the Wires 29 are pressed against the telt thereby preventing any noise and insuring proper contact between the contact Wires 29 and` the contact member 22.

Screws hold the board 26 and the supporting member 25 on the rail 15.

At the rear of the contact carriers Q8 is a Wire 35 extending the length thereof to which one el each pair of contact members 29 is secured and which lorms a bus-bar. rlhe other one of each pair or" the contact ivires 29, goes to a bundle of Wires or cable 36 Which extends outward through the Wall of the Wind' chest 10 and.. leads to the sound or expression mechanisn'i as desired.

It is to be unt crstood that while one rail 15 is shown' in the drawing, as many as desired may be used, the tension chamber being made o'lI the required height toyprovide sutlicient space.

ln order to exhaust the air Afrom the chamber 17, a suitable bleed as 37 may be provided. rThis bleed is connected by a passage 38 leading to the pouch chamber 17. The bleeds in this construction are at a place Where observation, through the Window 12, is possible.

The operation is as ollowszlVhen the perforation ot thel record sheet (not shown) opens its duct in the tracker (not shown), the air enters the duct Q-l, and passes through the duct 23 to the chamber 17. This places atn'iospheric pressure below the pouch 18. As there is exhaust tension above the pouch 18, the latter is caused to be raised, lifting with it the button 19 and the outer end 22 ot the contact n aking member Q1, tlius causing .the outer edge of the end 22 to complete electric communication between the contact Wires 2) and opera ving the magnet (not shown) at the note speaking or expression lcontrolling device, as the case may be.

Air is continually being exhausted from the bleed 37 into the tension chamber 11.

VThis bleed is, however, small compared with the inlet from the tracker and consequently has noetl'ect upon the result. f ,As soonas the' supply orti-air from. the l.t.recler. .ductis cut oli by the end ol the Apeil'oratioirs',l 'the bleed 3?' permits the air beneath the pouch 1S to be exhausted, thereby permitting its collapse and the consequent return of the resilient contacting member 21 to its lower position. This breaks the electric connection between the Wires 29.

TWith this structure, it is possible to obtain a sure and practically instantaneous operation of a note sounding device to be operated even though it, is located at a great distance from the selector. At the same time, the use or the ordinary pneumatic tracker With all ot its advantages, is permitted.

lllhile'one embodiment oi` this invention has been shown and described in detail, it is to be understood that itsl use is not limited to the embodiment shown and described and that modiiications and changes may be made Withoutl departing from the spirit. of the invention and Within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described a modification of the invention, What is claimed is:

1. ln combination, with a musical instrument, a support, a primary pneumatic, a resilient electric contact member adjacent the pneumatic, and a circuit controlling device connected to the support independently ot the pneumatic and in position to be moved to control the closing of the circuit through the contact member when the pneumatic is operated.

2. In combination With a musical instrument, a support, a primary pneumatic, a resilient electric Contact member adjacent. the pneumatic, and a resilient circuit controlling device mounted on the support and having a portion in position to be moved by the movable member ot the pneumatic, the electric contact member being in the path of movement ot the circuit controlling device.

3. In combination with a musical instru-- ment, a support, a primary pneumatic, a pair ol' electric contact members adjacent the pneumatic, and a circuit controlling device connected to the support independently of the pneumatic and in position to be moved to control the closing ot the circuit through the contact members when the pneumatic is operated.

a. In combination With a musical instrument, a support, a primary pouch pneumatic, a pair of resilient electric contact members adjacent. the pneumatic, and a flat resilient metallic circuit controlling device connected to the support independently ot the. pneumatic and between the movable memberof the pneumatic and the electric contact members and in position to be moved by the pneumatic When the latter is-operated, to complet-cA contactbetvveen the contact members. i

5. In combination ivithja musical instru-- ment, a tension chest, a rail detachably mounted therein, pouch chambers.l in the sition, relative to the punch and Contact rail, pouches over the chambers, control members, to cause the electrical closing of 10 ducts leading to the chambers, contact carthe latter When the former is operated. rers mounted adjacent the respective In testimony whereof We aiix our signa- 5 pouches, Contact members mounted in the tures.

carriers, und a circuit controlling device, for each pouch, connected to the rail and inde- JOHN GEORGE GOLL. )pendent/137 of the pouch and mounted in po- PAUL JOHN SOWADA. 

